Senators Highlight Environmental, Economic Value of Ethanol and the Renewable Fuel Standard

Three U.S. senators today highlighted the environmental and economic benefits of corn ethanol during a hearing on the Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS) held before the U.S. Senate Committee on Environment and Public Works.

During the hearing, Sens. Joni Ernst (R-Iowa), Tammy Duckworth (D-Ill.) and Debbie Stabenow (D-Mich.), who serve on this important committee, discussed the transportation emission reductions that result from renewable fuels, ethanol’s contribution to lowering fuel prices and agriculture’s role in producing and improving renewable fuels, among other issues.

“We appreciate Sens. Duckworth, Ernst and Stabenow for setting the record straight when it comes to agriculture and ethanol,” said National Corn Growers Association (NCGA) president Chris Edgington. “We were very pleased to have them highlight and include NCGA’s statement, which shows the environmental benefits of ethanol, into the hearing record.”

NCGA’s statement to the committee explains how increased corn yields and corn production practices support soil health and water quality while lowering the carbon intensity for both corn and ethanol. It also describes farmers’ innovation and the technological advancements in corn production that enable farmers to produce more corn on less land and with fewer inputs than ever before, increasing feedstock supply while shrinking corn’s footprint.

“From 2008 through 2020, the Renewable Fuel Standard resulted in nearly 1 billion metric tons of cumulative greenhouse gas savings, significantly exceeding projections, largely due to the reduced carbon intensity of corn ethanol,” said Edgington in the submitted statement. “Today’s low carbon ethanol is positioned with the right policies, to achieve net-zero emissions and continue to decarbonize transportation.”

Low carbon liquid fuels are essential to decarbonizing transportation successfully and affordably, and ethanol is available now, Edgington noted.

Read NCGA’s full statement submitted for the hearing here.

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